THURROCK Council leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies has confirmed that the council is to operate an alternate weekly bins collection service whereby blue (recycling) and brown (garden waste) bins will be collected on a fortnightly basis.

The U-turn in potential policy was first revealed on Thurrock Nub News last week.

Though confirmation was not given at this evening's (Wednesday, 14 June) meeting of the council's cabinet, at last night's cleaner, greener, safer overview and scrutiny committee councillors were told the next brown bin collection, sparking the alternating service would start on Monday, 26 June.

This evening the council's ruling Conservative cabinet backed a proposal to carry out a thorough review that will look at all aspects of household waste collections.

It says the authority wants to create to create a 'sustainable and reliable service which meets residents' needs and can be delivered consistently on budget'.

Cllr Jefferies, who is also portfolio holder for environment, said: "It is clear that bin collections cannot carry on as it has been

"I have heard what residents had to say and I am determined that we find a long-term solution to the issue of bin collections – that is what the strategic review we have approved this evening will do.

"By carrying out a full and thorough review we will be able to design a service that residents will be able to rely on and will collect bins on schedule. It is vital that this review be allowed the time it needs to create a service that is fit for purpose and can be delivered consistently on budget.

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"While this work is underway, we will operate a service that makes the best use of available resources to prioritise regular collection of all three bins, which will mean fortnightly collections of garden waste and recycling and weekly collections of general waste."

Cabinet has agreed that the review will be developed and brought back to members for their consideration.

The cabinet meeting can be viewed via this link.